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Jungfrau Express & Rhine Cruise

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Venture to Jungfraujoch on the Jungfrau Railway before sailing the water of the Rhine

You are viewing the 2021 itinerary. Select your departure year
20212022
8 days From £2,895 per person
Operated by our sister company Great Rail Journeys

2021 Tour code: MER21

About the tour

Before you set sail on the magical waters of the Rhine, venture to the top of Europe on the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, the continent's highest railway station, allowing you to enjoy lofty views across the Alpine peaks below. This tour is operated by our sister company Great Rail Journeys.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary:

Some departures run a reversed itinerary – View reversed Amsterdam - Basel itinerary (EMR21)

Itinerary: Amsterdam - Basel

You are viewing the reversed itinerary – switch back to itinerary (MER21)

Days 1-2 - To Interlaken

Meet your Tour Manager at our departure office in London St Pancras to board the Eurostar service to Paris. From here, we continue to Strasbourg or Colmar (departure dependent) where we overnight. On Day 2 we continue to Interlaken by rail, we check into our hotel, the 4-Star Hotel Metropole, arriving in time for dinner. You may wish to head out on an evening stroll into the town. Interlaken is set between lakes Thun and Brienz, and the beauty of the surrounding mountains is on full display as they stand guard over the calm waters below.

Includes
  • Day 1 - Dinner
  • Day 2 - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - The Jungfrau Railway

Travel on the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest railway station - today. Begin on the Bernese Oberland Railway, trundling through the foothills of the Alps from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, passing flower-filled pastures and past pretty villages.

You'll then join the Wengernalp Railway, continuing your ascent through ever-changing scenery to Kleine Scheidegg. Here you transfer to the Jungfrau Railway itself. Climbing further from Kleine Scheidegg, the train arrives at Jungfraujoch, the 'Top of Europe', located 11,332 feet above sea level. With free time at the summit station, you have plenty of time at the summit to explore the Ice Palace and its many ice sculptures.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Days 4-5 - To Basel and Strasbourg

We depart Interlaken today, travelling to Basel by rail, where you'll be met by a Great Rail Journeys representative who will escort you to the ship, the Amadeus Silver III. This evening, we enjoy a welcome cocktail before a delicious Swiss themed meal.

Sail into the charming French city of Strasbourg on Day 5. Strasbourg's position on the German-French border has seen it change hands between the two nations frequently throughout history. Because of this, Strasbourg represents the best of both cultures, with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets.

You have two choices here. Your first option is a city tour of Strasbourg, uncovering its charm and history. Your second choice sees you travel into the famous Black Forest, passing through stunning fairytale panoramas.

Includes
  • Day 4 - Breakfast, Dinner
  • Day 5 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 6-7 - Heidelberg, Rudesheim & The Rhine Gorge

We arrive in Speyer this morning, where there's free time to explore. This town is home to one of the largest privately-owned collections of vehicles in the world, the Technik Museum Speyer. Featuring an entire jumbo jet, army vehicles, emergency vehicles, a submarine and much more, this museum is a treasure trove of vehicular delights and is well worth a visit.

Later in the afternoon, we have an excursion to the delightful university town of Heidelberg where we are treated to a guided tour. Heidelberg is famous for a magnificent ruined castle that stands guard over the riverbanks, proudly looking over the town below.

On Day 7 we sail into the classic German town of Rüdesheim am Rhein, known for its formidable wine production, especially of the dry Riesling variety. Perhaps walk along the river during your free time here this morning, before our ship departs for Koblenz.

This afternoon includes one of the highlights of the tour as we pass through the glorious Rhine Gorge, one of the most beautiful sections of the river and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sheer banks rise up, towering over the river below, covered in deep forests and miles of green vineyards, lending an almost ethereal feel to the waterway.

Our lunch today sees us tuck into a wonderful themed buffet with a suckling pig as the striking centrepiece, and several smaller dishes from this part of the world. We sail this evening into the enchanting city of Koblenz; you may wish to visit one of the famous wine taverns here.

Includes
  • Day 6 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 7 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 8-9 - The Lower Rhine and the Drachenfelsbahn

After an evening in Koblenz, we depart and discover the marvellous Lower Rhine, a stretch of river characterised by lush green meadows and postcard villages.

Our Cruise Director provides us with the history of this area, and highlights points of interest. In the afternoon, we dock in Koenigswinter, where we embark on a journey on the Drachensfelbahn railway. This rack railway rises into the mountains and high into the forests for wonderful views across the Rhine- Westphalia region of Germany.

On Day 9, we arrive into Cologne, we venture forth into this vibrant German city on a walking tour. We visit the resplendent cathedral, a centuries-year-old building which survived 14 aerial hits during bombing across the Second World War. We also wander through the many bustling squares, labyrinthine streets and see Romanesque town-houses. Tonight we enjoy a gala dinner with the captain.

Includes
  • Day 8 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 9 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 10-11 - Amsterdam and the Medemblik Steam Train

We arrive in Amsterdam this morning where we have a choice of two excursions, the first is a city tour of Amsterdam. One of the most popular of all the European cities, Amsterdam is as modern as it is historic, as young as it is old. From idyllic canals and large parks to contemporary art galleries and futuristic architecture, this is a city that boasts something for everyone. The second option is an excursion to Hoorn where we board the splendid Medemblik Steam Train and enjoy a nostalgic trip through enchanting Dutch scenery.

On Day 11, we disembark the ship and here your cruise concludes. Here, you are escorted to the railway station for your train to London, with your Tour Manager.

Includes
  • Day 10 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 11 - Breakfast
Days 1-2 - Amsterdam and the Medemblik Steam Train

Today, meet your Tour Manager and the rest of your group at London St Pancras before travelling on the Eurostar service to Amsterdam, where you'll be escorted to the ship. This evening, we enjoy a welcome cocktail before dinner this evening.

On Day 2 we have a choice of two excursions, the first of which is a city tour of Amsterdam. One of the most popular of all the European cities, Amsterdam is as modern as it is historic, as young as it is old. From idyllic canals and large parks, to contemporary art galleries and futuristic architecture, this is a city that boasts something for everyone. The second option is an excursion to Hoorn where we board the splendid Medemblik Steam Train and enjoy a nostalgic trip through splendid Dutch scenery.

Includes
  • Day 1 - Dinner
  • Day 2 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Amsterdam
Days 3-4 - The Upper Rhine and the Drachenfelsbahn

This morning, we arrive into Cologne, we venture forth into this vibrant German city on a walking tour. We visit the resplendent cathedral, a centuries-year-old building which survived 14 aerial hits during bombing across the Second World War. We also wander through the many bustling squares, labyrinthine streets and see Romanesque town-houses.

On Day 4 we depart from Cologne this morning and discover the marvellous Upper Rhine, a stretch of river characterised by lush green meadows and postcard villages. Our Cruise Director provides us with the history of this area, and highlights points of interest. In the afternoon, we dock in Koenigswinter, where we embark on a journey on the Drachensfelbahn railway. This rack railway rises into the mountains and high into the forests for wonderful views across the Rhine- Westphalia region of Germany. In the evening, we indulge with a traditional gourmet dinner which features Spargelzeit, a kind of white asparagus which is famous in this area. (Please note, Spargelzeit depends on seasonal availability).

Includes
  • Day 3 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 4 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 5-6 - Heidelberg, Rudesheim & The Rhine Gorge

After free time to explore Koblenz this morning.

This afternoon includes one of the highlights of the tour as we pass through the glorious Rhine Gorge, one of the most beautiful sections of the river and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sheer river banks rise up, towering over the river below, covered in deep forests and miles of green vineyards, lending an almost ethereal feel to the waterway. We enjoy a commentary from our knowledgeable Cruise Director during this passage.

Our lunch today sees us tuck into a wonderful themed buffet with a suckling pig as the striking centrepiece, and several smaller dishes from this part of the world making up the rest of the offerings. Weather permitting we'll enjoy our lunch on the sun deck as we take in the majesty of the glorious Rhine Gorge. 

This evening we sail to the classic German town of Rüdesheim am Rhein, known for its formidable wine production especially of the dry Riesling variety.

We arrive into Speyer on Day 6, where you have free time to explore. This town is home to one of the largest privately owned collections of vehicles in the world, the Technik Museum Speyer. Featuring an entire jumbo jet, army vehicles, emergency vehicles, a submarine and much more, this museum is a treasure trove of vehicular delights and is well worth a visit. Later in the afternoon, we have an excursion to the delightful academic town of Heidelberg where we are treated to a guided tour. Heidelberg is famous for a magnificent ruined castle, proudly stood high above the town below, gazing down onto the river and the attractive town houses.

Includes
  • Day 5 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 6 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 7-8 - Strasbourg and Interlaken

Our vessel sails into the charming German town of Kehl today. Sat across the Rhine from Kehl is the beautiful city of Strasbourg, whose position on the German-French border has seen it change hands between the two nations frequently throughout history. Because of this, Strasbourg represents the best of both cultures, with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets.

You have two choices here. Your first option is a city tour of Strasbourg, uncovering its charm and history. Your second choice sees you travel into the famous Black Forest, passing through stunning fairytale panoramas.

Tonight is an opportunity to dress up in our finest as we enjoy a Gala dinner with the captain and crew.

On Day 8, we disembark the ship in Basel and transfer by rail to Interlaken. On arrival in Interlaken check into our hotel, the 4-Star Hotel Metropole, where we enjoy dinner tonight.

Includes
  • Day 7 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 8 - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 - The Jungfrau Railway

Travel on the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest railway station - today. Begin on the Bernese Oberland Railway, trundling through the foothills of the Alps from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, passing flower-filled pastures and past pretty villages.

You'll then join the Wengernalp Railway, continuing your ascent through ever-changing scenery to Kleine Scheidegg. Here you transfer to the Jungfrau Railway itself. Climbing further from Kleine Scheidegg, the train arrives at Jungfraujoch, the 'Top of Europe', located 11,332 feet above sea level. With free time at the summit station, you have plenty of time at the summit to explore the Ice Palace and its many ice sculptures.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Homeward bound

After breakfast, we make our way by rail to Paris where we catch the Eurostar service back to London St Pancras.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Trains

Drachenfelsbahn
Eurostar
Jungfrau Express

Ships

MS Amadeus Silver III
MS Amadeus Imperial
MS Amadeus Cara

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Europe & UK Escorted Holiday by Rail 2021

Europe & UK Escorted Holiday by Rail 2021

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Jungfrau Express & Rhine Cruise

Venture to Jungfraujoch on the Jungfrau Railway before sailing the water of the Rhine

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